One Eye

The Eyes Trilogy #1

by Stuart Gordon, Patrick Woodroffe (Illustrator)

They fought for racial purity in Phadraig. All around were monsters, but the stern hierachy of the old city was ruthless. Patrick Cormac was their great defender—where he stood, the mutants would be halted.But the long-heralded birth of the one-eyed babe broke the tradition. Not only was it impossible to slay this god-to-be but Patrick himself became its first convert.Beyond the walls of Phadraig lay the route to the new era that was to be... and there Patrick and his brave companions brought One-Eye to the mutants—and to the tower where the last of the old science-wizardry still held the centuries in thrall.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Fantasy

272 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1973

About the author

Stuart Gordon is the pen name for Richard Alexander Steuart Gordon. He also published as Alex Stuart and Alex R. Stuart.

Reviews

[Karl]

DAW Collectors #76

Cover Artist: Tim Kirk

Name: Gordon, Richard Alexander Steuart
Birthplace: Banff, Banffshire, Scotland, UK, (18 May 1947 -7 February 2009

Alternate Names: Richard A. Gordon, Richard Gordon, Alex R. Stuart.

One-eye was the mutant baby whose incredible mental powers were shaking the newer world to pieces. Two-eyed were the acolytes who saw the chaos coming and sough to release an anti-force. Three-eyed was the one within whose mind hid the third eye of ancient wisdom and who alone could stabilize the coming society.

Eyes Series.:

1. One-Eye (1973)
2. Two-Eyes (1974)
Three-Eyes (1975)

The series is set in a post-apocalyptic world where the same nature was torn and mutated. The origin of the catastrophe is uncertain, due to the passing of centuries and to the sheer scale of destruction it unleashed upon the land. In book two it is hinted that the original cause might be a large-scale nuclear war or a cometary impact. The plot revolves around a mutant child with god-like powers called the Divine Mutant, the reincarnation of a former mutant king born one thousand years before, shortly after the catastrophe, who is determined to spread chaos in the slowly rebuilding world. Most of the events are seen through the eyes of a group of people involved in his schemes.


3. Three-Eyes (1975)

[Richard Clay]

The classic pulp science fantasy swords 'n' cyborgs stomper. A must.

[A B]

This did nothing for me. It's very imaginative and puts a fun spin on the S&S genre, with mutants, golems and a nuclear wasteland. But it is all aesthetic and it goes no deeper. For a light bit of pulp fantasy, it's alright I guess. I was also finding it needlessly drawn out.

[John Bowman]

Set in a future Earth where an man-made accident had previously wiped (literally) away most of Human civilization. A mutant cyclops baby is born who is actually a reincarnation of the individual responsible for said accident (this is a small spoiler :)).

I read this book in the 1980s and then read my paperback copy recently. A quick read. A little dated, rather "pulpy" perhaps but still an enjoyable read and worth 3.5+/5 . I love the Cuyahogan golem concept the most in this book. The rest is a mish mash of tropey scifi with lashings of mutants, genetic purity, Mad Maxish barbarians playing with technology they do not understand, and apocalypsism, still fun. Having read the other books (Two-Eyes and Three-eyes) helps give this book overall context. It should be noted the book reflects a zeitgeist of the late 1970s, written when concerns of energy (and other resource) limitation and overpopulation were existential threats so younger readers may think it a waste of time on face value. Also was written when "new age ideas" were popular as you will discover if read the next book!

[Andy]

'VOLUME 1 IN A BRILIANT NEW SERIES'. 1ST PBACK EDITION.

[SciFiOne]

1977 grade F-

[Alien]

In Phadraig, mutations are abhorred. Even children with minor flaws are condemned to becoming slaves.

This was boring and laborious to read. I made it to page 60